Guilty Pleasures

An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel

By: Laurell K. Hamilton

Narrated by: Kimberly Alexis

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Published almost 10 years ago, Guilty Pleasures marked the debut of a writer who was destined to grow from cult favorite to a major best-selling author. Now, for long-time Anita Blake aficionados and newfound fans, Guilty Pleasures makes its debut in downloadable audio.

Listeners will learn how Anita Blake started raising the dead - and killing the undead. And how she met Jean Claude, the master vampire destined to become not only her biggest nemesis but her greatest lover.

Love in vein: listen to more tales of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter.

©2009 Laurell K. Hamilton (P)2009 Penguin

Critic reviews

“Hamilton remains one of the most inventive and exciting writers in the paranormal field.” (Number-one New York Times best-selling author Charlaine Harris)

“A sex-positive, kick-ass female protagonist." (Starburst)

“Number one New York Times best seller Hamilton is still thrilling fans...with her amazing multifaceted characters and intricate multilayered world, a mix of erotic romance, crime drama, and paranormal/fantasy fiction. Her descriptive prose is gritty and raw, with a mosaic of humor and horror to tell this complex, well-detailed story. But it’s her enigmatic stable of stars that continues to shine, managing their improbable interpersonal relationship dynamics." (Library Journal)

good book, bad narration

my friend has obsessively talked about this series for months and I thought I would give it a try. I feel like I would've really loved this book if I had read it myself. it's nothing against the narrator herself, she speaks clearly and does voices, she just wasn't a good fit for the character. all of the sassy, snapback lines came across as incredibly serious and not serious like Daria says things but just kills the joke. Also she does these accents for everyone: Canadian, French, Southern, etc. Some of them I really liked but the French accent kind of ruined one of the characters and the man with "sex appeal" had an overly feminine voice, more feminine than the main character.
As far as the story line itself, I rather enjoyed it. Sort of your stereotypical vampire Hunter feel but not in a bad way. I suggest reading the book.

Better than expected

I have read the JD Robb series with the female protagonist Eve Dallas. It did nothing for me but made me mad. Therefore, I avoided this series like the plagued. Well I took the plunge. I was in the mood for a kick ass female character and tried this one. I actually enjoyed the first book. I did cheat a little and read the summary in winkipedia for the series.

After my Eve Dallas experience, I wanted to make sure about investing my time with Anita. I was concern how she could carry a series on her necromancy powers. Actually in this book it did not impress me at all. From my cheating I discovered her abilities become bastardize with her interactions with her lovers. Now that I would like to see. The bastardization of her powers not the lover stuff. So I have committed to the series to see how she becomes a formidable fore.

FYI. I did discover you have to read the series in order. If you read contrary to that check out the summaries on winkipedia. She experiences a lot of character growth as the series continues. Who wants to be out of sync with that?

One of my favorite series

This is one of my favorite series and I was delighted to be able to start collecting it on audible as well as hard copy.

The narrator did a wonderful job giving life to each character and it was very easy to tell who was speaking just by accent and/or tone of voice. At the beginning and end of each chapter there is a bit of music or sound effects in the background which I personally found distracting but they are few and far between and do not last very long.

My only complaint is that Jean-Claude's voice, while beautifully accented, came across very feminine. His character does not have a very active role in this book which gives you very little exposure to grow accustomed to the voice the narrator is using. I am hoping that it will be easier in the next books.

Sassy, Sexy, and Exciting

This wasn't my first time reading or listening to this book. It's one of my favorites in the series, and I really enjoy the narrator. The speed, tones, and voices she uses really bring the book to life.

Guilty pleasures indeed!

About halfway through the first book and it's engrossing and just plain entertaining - like a good "beach read" or some slightly spicy mind candy. I like something like this, a little lighter, in between some of the non-fiction or more literary tomes ( I try to alternate, mix things up). Anita Blake is a tougher, gutsier, more deliberately capable Sookie Stackhouse and I think Kimberly Alexis voices her perfectly.

Guilty Pleasures

While the narrator seemed to struggle, the story is engaging. Follow Anita Blake as she works her regular job raising Zombies, dealing with her money hungry boss and is trapped into working for the one thing she kills as a US Marshal, Vampires. With help from a friend (Ted) they enter a place very few humans have enter let alone walk out of alive. Join Anita on her adventures!

bad narration.

I own the series, the narrator was horrible, I will be canceling my subscription today.

great story-narrator...meh

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend to a friend because it is a great story. Immediate hook!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Guilty Pleasures?

Anita's final confrontation with the master vampire.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

background music and small parts of the narrator's voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Anita's humor cracks me up.

Any additional comments?

This is a great story! I've moved on now to book 3 and see no end in sight. Anita is funny, bad ass and real. A lot of this genre portray the vampire hunter as a badass take no prisoners type. Don't get me wrong she is bad ass but she is also scared ****less a lot of the time. Given what she is up against that makes her more 'real' for me.
****one reviewer mentioned weird background music and it is there!
at first I thought it indicated the end of the chapter but no it pops up throughout the book and frankly it is quite distracting. The narrator's voice didn't bother me as much as some other reviewers (granted I haven't listened to the previous narrator) but she does fall flat a few times. For instance several times Anita screams :ahhhhh. and the narrator has no emotion really assigned to it. Now having said all that obviously it didn't deter me from listening to the next 2 books.
It's a story well worth the few annoyances.

A Good Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - I have read almost all of the Anita Blake books, but the1st five are my favorites. listening to the book adds a new dimension to the story

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anita Blake - The character is well developed and believable. I find the idea of a tough (small) woman necromancer/vampire hunter an interesting character and the author pulled it off well

What about Kimberly Alexis’s performance did you like?

Yes, I was not sure at first if I would since her voice was not what I invisioned for Anita, Also, I was irritated at first when she sort of whispered when Anita screamed or shouted. Once I got used to it, it was fine and it would be impractical if she really screamed or shouted

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it is over eight hours and that is too long to listen to the story. It is a good book to read in two or three sittings

what happens!

thought it was a great book but the ending was bland. I was disappointed. the narration was really good.